Streptokinase is an enzyme which works to break up and dissolve blood clots which can block arteries. It is mostly used in the treatment of heart attack or lung blood clots (pulmonary embolism). The sooner Streptokinase is administered to a patient, who went through a heart attack through intravenous injection, the lesser damage will be caused to the muscles of the heart. Patients with heart attach coming to receive treatment in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) previously had to buy this expensive injection which may cost approximately BDT 5000-6000 from pharmacies which used to delay the process of the treatment. NICVD will now provide the life saving medication completely free of cost to its patients.

Prof Dr Afzalur Rahman, Director of NICVD said that in case of emergency situations the upper and middle class people could afford the expensive injection but it gets tough for the patients who cannot afford buying it. The decision to provide the injection free of cost is mainly for the patients who could not afford buying it.